Our strange use of the English word "No". The word no is one of the smallest words in the english language, it is also one of its most powerful emphatic and abrupt words. Despite what many may think the Irish language still has a hold on what may be called the Irish psyche. There is no direct translation of the english emphatic No into irish, the word does not exist in the Irish language, and Irish people still struggle to understand how to use the word, Irish people still use and interpret the english word "No" as a polite maybe/possibly.

During the financial crisis there was a press conference with Enda and Angela where Angela was stating quite clearly "Nein" there is no special case for Ireland, while Enda is there explaining Angela is using the irish version of that word, nod nod wink wink

Our strange use of the English word "No". The word no is one of the smallest words in the english language, it is also one of its most powerful emphatic and abrupt words. Despite what many may think the Irish language still has a hold on what may be called the Irish psyche. There is no direct translation of the english emphatic No into irish, the word does not exist in the Irish language, and Irish people still struggle to understand how to use the word, Irish people still use and interpret the english word "No" as a polite maybe/possibly.

During the financial crisis there was a press conference with Enda and Angela where Angela was stating quite clearly "Nein" there is no special case for Ireland, while Enda is there explaining Angela is using the irish version of that word, nod nod wink wink

You're right. Its one of the reasons why Irish people will often respond to yes/no questions with "It is/It isn't", "I am/I'm not" etc, even in English.

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